Cherryville woman charged for arson, theft

Waldenville

ANNIE BLACKBURN
Staff Writer

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Detective Matt Burgess has arrested one person and charged another in connection with a suspicious house fire that was set on June 15.
Susan Starlene Waldenville, 38, of 6717 Charleston Trail in Cherryville, was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with one felony count each of second degree arson, larceny after breaking and entering, two felony counts of breaking and entering and conspiracy and one misdemeanor count each of simple assault and first degree trespassing. Detectives also charged Joshua Lee Blackwell in the case, but did not take him into custody as he is being held on separate charges in York County, South Carolina.
The charges stem from a suspicious fire call at 5622 Perry Jonas Road in Vale, during which firefighters found a gas can in a front bedroom. It was also discovered that televisions, jewelry and a set of golf clubs were missing from the residence. Burgess, Richard Calhoun, Mark Stamey and the Lincoln County Fire Marshall’s office conducted an investigation and it was determined that Waldenville and Blackwell were suspects.
Waldenville is also charged with breaking into a neighbor’s home and assaulting the female resident and her juvenile children, deputies said. She is being held at the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center without bond.